The 29th Stockholm Seminar on Japan
Dr. Jakob Nobuoka, University of Gävle
Why has Japan become a global provider of popular culture? Where is the strength of the Japanese cultural industries? These questions will be discussed by presenting examples from platforms important when formulating trends and accumulating innovation in the Japanese cultural economy of games, manga and fashion. In recent decades personalized content has become increasingly important for selling high tech products such as digital games, mobile telephones and other ICT (Information and communications technology) related consumer goods. To attract new customers, the content needs to follow cultural trends and fads. To manage these developments a techno-cultural convergence together with user-friendly approaches are adopted by many companies within the ICT industries. The fashion industry is another example of an industry that benefits from a trend-sensitive youth culture. Japan is therefore interesting to study in order to learn more about user innovation. For instance, the streets of Akihabara and Harajuku are both creative milieus in the urban landscape that foster strong consumer cultures. Theoretically, the presentation aims to contribute to discussions within business studies and economic geography on innovation and knowledge creation.
Jakob Nobuoka is a senior lecturer at the University of Gävle. He received a doctoral degree in human geography in 2010 from Uppsala University. His research interests are Japanese cultural economy, urban planning, user innovation, and techno-cultural convergence. His recent publications include "User Innovation and Creative Consumption in Japanese Culture Industries: The Case of Akihabara, Tokyo”, Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography 92:3, pp. 205-218.
Date and Time: February 24, 11:30 – 13:00
Venue: Aulan, Kräftriket 4A, Stockholm University
Please RSVP to akihiro.ogawa@orient.su.se no later than February 22.
The seminar series is jointly organized by the European Institute of Japanese Studies at Stockholm School of Economics, the East Asia Program at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, and the Department of Japanese Studies at Stockholm University. It features monthly seminars on Japanese economy, politics and society.
Welcome!
Akihiro Ogawa Marie Söderberg Linus Hagström